Prologue
Mia Chavez stroked her long black hair. With it curled and makeup plastered on her face, she looked less Latino, more Italian. Which is what she needed, to blend in with the Costello family. She had worked her way up, from making friends with the girlfriends of lower thugs, to Luca Costello’s right-hand man. As his date to their family event tonight, she would be in the same room as Luca and Vincent Costello. Two years of undercover work and ‘Mia Cavelli’ had become part of the family. The men spoke around her, as if she wasn’t even in the room. The joint task force of Homeland, FBI and CIA, was trying to take down not only the crime family, but a blood diamond broker who left a trail of bodies behind in Sierra Leone. After a lengthy investigation, someone found a connection. The blood diamonds were taken to a jeweler that the Costello’s used to launder their money. If they found the dealer, they could use him, to prove the money laundering, and take down the whole syndicate. Undercover, her job was to get close and find out who the dealer was. She fidgeted with the too tight, too short mini dress she wore, hating how she had to dress.
“You look bored,” a deep voice came from behind her. She jumped slightly, not realizing someone had been standing behind her. In the large den of Vincent Costello’s country home, she had tucked herself into a corner, just watching everyone. This was a girlfriend’s weekend. So, the men in the group, brought their side women, instead of the wives. These young girls were happy to be spoiled, and treated to expensive presents, in exchange for having to be with their sugar daddies once or twice a week. They had a lot of freedom, but were at the beck and call of these men. Mia had started spending time with Mickey ‘The Hammer’ Marcone. He was in his late forties, married with three children. She had managed to not have sex with him yet, but she was dreading it happening. Unfortunately, undercover this deep, she had to live the life. In full. Turning, she came face to face with a dark-haired Adonis. The man, she had never seen before. In all their photos of the syndicate, he hadn’t come up. His sharp features and piercing brown eyes made her insides melt. He was extremely handsome.
“I’m good,” she said, thickening the Brooklyn accent, and twirling her hair with a finger. Sipping the champagne in her hand, she watched him, over the rim of her glass.
“Hmm,” he looked her over thoughtfully. “I see. And who is your Daddy?” He asked her with humor coating every word.
Just then, a hand grabbed her ass from behind and she bit back the urge to shudder. The meaty fingers belonged to Mickey. He was her coupe. The man who would get her close enough to find out what she needed. As with all the girlfriends, he put her up in a luxury apartment in Manhattan. The same building as the other girlfriends. Plastering a fake, but passable grin on her face, she giggled. Smacking Mickey on the arm as he slid to her side, the stranger stepped back.
“David,” Mickey greeted the man. Holding out a hand, they shook. “Good to see you. Have you been keeping Mia busy?”
“Absolutely. We were just discussing politics.” The joke was not beyond her. This man thought she was just another vapid woman, like the rest. They all laughed, as she saw Luca approach.
“Mickey,” Mia whined. “Tori said that Vincenzo bought her this diamond bracelet. It’s so shiny. That bitch said you’d never afford something like that.” She pouted, stroking her hand up and down his arm.
“Aw, baby,” he chuckled, speaking to her like a child. “You know Daddy will take care of you. Tomorrow, we’ll go, after I’m done with church. I know a guy, we’ll get you something custom made that will make Tori green with envy. Vincenzo is nothing but a cugine. A thug. Not even a made man.” Mia pressed her body against his side.
“Thank you, Daddy,” she uttered quietly, while cringing inside. It truly pained her to have to not only act dimwitted, but to call the man Daddy. Blech, she thought.
“Mickey, David,” he said, greeting the Adonis. “Mia,” Luca nodded to her. Since finding love, Luca had seemed to settle down, and was trying to go straight. She knew as much, but from time to time, he was still pulled into the family business. It would be hard on her to take him down, but if he knew what was good for him, and his woman, he would cooperate. “I need you gentlemen in the conference room.” Mickey smacked her ass again.
“I’ll be back baby, let us men handle some business.” He turned to leave the room. After a minute, she followed, walking loudly on her heels.
“Mickey,” she called out, as he was about to enter the dining room. They used that for gatherings and meetings, as it was the only room with a big enough table for them to sit around. There were doors on both ends of the room. One set for guests to enter, one set where servers would enter, if entertaining for a large dinner. Mickey stopped, looking back at her.
“Miss me already?” His cocky grin churned her stomach.
“Always.” She gave the fake grin again, it seemed to make him happy, but hurt her face. “I need to powder my nose. Where’s the ladies room?” Though she had studied blueprints of the property and knew where everything was, no one had ever brought her here. So, she needed to convey ignorance.
“Ah, right.” Moving to her side, he pulled a bag of cocaine from his pocket, smashing it into her hand. “Top of the stairs, second door to the right,” he pointed. The entryway they were in, held the front door, and a large staircase. At the first level, it split, going to the left or right. Hallways spread down both ways to bedrooms, offices, and bathrooms. She planted a kiss on his cheek, and turned to walk away. Stepping hard on the heels, she made sure they clicked with each step. It seemed all the girls did that, and the men enjoyed it. She dropped the baggie of drugs into the small purse strapped to her shoulder.
“Love to watch her leave,” she heard Mickey mumble to someone as he went into the dining room. Looking over her shoulder, she paused on the first step. With the entry way empty, she walked on her toes, keeping the shoes silent, and moved under the stairs. In the shadow, she was hidden from the entryway, but could look into the dining room. The doors on this end of the room were slightly ajar.
The men were all face away from her, their attention on someone at the head of the table. The backs of heads were her view, she couldn’t see who was speaking. Checking for a clear coast again, she inched closer, trying to hear.
“I won’t tell, if you won’t,” someone whispered in her ear. She froze, realizing it was David. How had he gotten behind her? Being an agent, she had a high sense of alertness. But hadn’t heard anything. She could feel his nearness. His scent was intoxicating. A masculine woodsy smell, that sent her hormones into over drive. She squeezed her thighs together, hoping that it wasn’t obvious. He moved to her side.
“I was just curious. Ya know?” She pushed the thick accent she used when speaking with these people. “This was supposed to be a fun day, and they all gotta do business. I just wanted to know what my man does, right? Like, is he important? Tori, she talks a lot of shit,” she blamed one of the girls that wasn’t there. She didn’t come around much, so Mia figured it was safe. David wrapped an arm around her shoulders, leading her to the stairs.
“I get it. You woman, every one of you, feel the need to know all.” That cocky grin returned, and she noticed how perfectly white his teeth were. How did this guy fit in? she wondered. There was a surveillance team close, so hopefully they got a photo of him they could run facial on. Mia allowed him to maneuver her away from the doors. At the stairs, she pulled away, stepping up.
“So, yea, I’m gonna powder my nose now,” she turned, and left him standing there. Glancing back, he stood, watching her go. In the bathroom, she sighed in relief. Hands gripped the sink counter, and she leaned over, breathing deep, trying to calm her nerves. Being undercover was touchy. Anything could give you away or get you killed. There wasn’t always a team waiting nearby to save your ass. You were on your own.
Mia looked up into the mirror. Her reflection, someone she didn’t know. The real Mia didn’t wear much makeup, lived in messy buns and comfy clothes. Even after so long, she still wasn’t used to the girl looking back at her. Pulling out the cocaine, she sighed. If she didn’t do a line, Mickey would be suspicious. She had learned that early on. Thankfully, it wasn’t a drug that completely screwed her up. She could handle a line or two to fit in, and still think clearly. Actually, it seemed she was more attentive, focused, while on it, and that scared her. Quickly, she shook out some of the white powder, and used her fake ID to cut it up. Putting it back, she rolled up a hundred she had, using it to suck the drug up into her nose. Her eyes closed, squeezing tight as a wave of burn crashed through her sinus cavity. With two fingers, she pressed her nostrils shut. Standing up, she wiped under her nose, looking in the mirror again. A knock at the door pulled her from staring at herself in disgust.
“Mia, let me in. Mickey has that good shit,” she heard. Gina Rossi was the girlfriend of Pauly ‘Ice Pick’ Bruno. He was an enforcer for the family. Rumored to have killed someone with an ice pick. She opened the door enough for Gina to wedge in, shutting and locking it behind her.
Gina was one of the few girls Mia actually felt like real friends with. They spent a lot of their down time together. She was a sweet girl from Queens, who’s whole family had been entwined with the Costello’s. So, it was inevitable that she would end up with someone also in the life. This girl was smart though, so Mia found she had to be more careful, to keep cover. She had confided in Mia, that her dream was to work in art. She took college classes online for Art History and was an amazing painter. Gina picked up the baggie Mia left on the sink, and put out more of the powder.
“These things are boring. I hate it. I would rather be home, with a bottle of wine,” she whined. Mia gave a genuine smile, nodding in agreement.
“I’m sure after the business, things will end soon.” Mia dumped out enough for a line, and waited while Gina inhaled it quickly and then they left the bathroom. Together, they walked down the stairs as chaos erupted. The front door swung open, and a large man, in a dark suit rushed to the conference room.
“David,” he shouted. Her Adonis stranger came from the dining room, looking angrily at the man. They whispered together and then David’s face turned red. He ran a hand through his light brown hair, looking around. His eyes caught Mia’s and he paused.
The moment was broken though, when Luca came out of the dining room. He spoke with David in hushed tones as Gina tugged Mia’s arm. At the bottom of the stairs, she could hear part of the conversation.
“Raided…” “Whole shipment…” She walked slowly back to the den, where the other girls were, and the few men, not privy to the meeting. They were lower level men, just there to do what they were told. Pouring another champagne, Mia leaned up against the back of a chair, Gina at her side. She chatted about one of her classes, as Mia kept her gaze on the door. One by one, the men returned, making their excuses and heading off with their girlfriends. Mickey came and gathered Mia, claiming they had to work, so he was taking her home. Her thoughts were on David, whoever he was, and what had made him so angry. He was nowhere to be seen when they left. She couldn’t wait to get out of the damn heels, and soak her feet. Mickey dropped her at the apartment, promising to gather her tomorrow, to go buy a bracelet. But it was Sunday, he claimed he would, but she knew church and dinner with the family would come first. And that was fine with her. She needed time to go over all that happened and get a report to her handler, who posed as her cousin, that visited the city every few weeks for work and took his cousin out to eat. She had a lot to go over with him.